Why is nutrition important during pregnancy?

Pregnancy diet and nutrition is crucial for the development of your baby.

The importance of nutrition during pregnancy cannot be understated. Good nutrition and a healthy diet are vital, and offers the opportunity to set your baby up for a healthy life in terms of diet. Healthy eating habits will help your developing baby get the best start in life. Read on to find out more about how you can have a healthy pregnancy from a nutritional point of view.   

Pregnancy Nutrition

The importance of nutrition during pregnancy cannot be understated. Along with physical activity, good nutrition and a healthy diet are vital, and offers a fantastic opportunity to set your baby up for a healthy life. Healthy eating habits will help your developing baby get the best start in life. Read on to find out more about how you can have a healthy pregnancy from a nutritional point of view.  

What to eat during pregnancy?

A variety of food from five key food groups will ensure your unborn baby gets the vitamin and mineral supplementation that it needs. After all, you are its source of vitamins and minerals as it develops during pregnancy. 

Fruit and vegetables are beneficial to an unborn child’s development. Vegetables of different types and colours are also beneficial. For example, green leafy vegetables are a good source of the vitamins and minerals that both mother and baby need. They are rich in vitamins A, C, K, and E, as well as calcium, iron, fibre, folic acid and folate. 

Grain-based foods, mostly wholegrain and/or high cereal fibre varieties such as bread, cereals, rice, pasta, noodles, oats, quinoa and barley are also good sources of nutrients such as iron, selenium and magnesium. 

Poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts, seeds, legumes/beans and lean meats are high in iron and important in regards to a healthy pregnancy diet. Additionally, milk, yoghurt and cheese as well as calcium-rich alternatives to them are also beneficial.

Foods to avoid during pregnancy

Pregnancy can be a whirlwind of feelings, but there are foods that you should avoid whilst pregnant. These include soft cheeses, sandwich meats, bean sprouts, fish containing high levels of mercury, raw eggs and drinking alcohol. 

Steady weight gain during pregnancy is also a normal and healthy part of pregnancy. However, it is also important to not gain too much weight. The amount that is healthy to gain will depend on your pre-pregnancy weight and varies from person to person.

Pregnancy Nutrition Recommendations

Eating well during pregnancy has many health benefits, not just for your developing baby but for you too. Pregnant women as well as their unborn babies need extra nutrients, which will require you to eat food more often.

As mentioned, it is important to eat foods from the five food groups and lower discretionary foods to a minimum. Things such as increasing your grain consumption to 8 servings a day and choosing foods high in iron such as lean red meat and tofu will be beneficial. Additionally, making a habit of drinking lots of water as well as reduced fat milk, and eating hard cheeses will help. As a bonus, there are plenty of good foods such as certain fruits which are ready to eat right away, and plenty of healthy options which will take less than 30 minutes to organise.

I have put together a summary which has all the key things you need to know about how to nourish your body optimally throughout your pregnancy journey. 

Pregnancy Nutrition Coaching 

If you’re looking for someone to coach you through the journey that is a pregnancy, I am able to help! You have come to the right place for information on how to care for you and your baby through evidence based, scientifically proven advice from someone who has completed over 12 years of university and post-graduate education. I have done all the hard work for you and present the most up to date, reliable and valid nutrition advice you could receive.

If you have any further questions, feel free to get in touch for more health information!